Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-02-21
I A HISTORIC SWORD.
WELDED BY CAPT. REID AT A
HEROIC SEA FIGHT.

The ''Thermopyla of the Ocean'-Seven
Guns and Ninety Men Against 1876
Guns and 1000 Men-The Fight and
Its Results.
There has lain upon the desk of the presi-
dent for some time plain, steel scabharded
sword, old fashioned in style and and service
able rather than elegant, slightly curved,
somewhat battered and generally a weapon
that looks as though it had seen service. And
it has; and service, too, in one of the most he
roic actions described in the pages of Ameri-
cen history
A day or two ago the president sent this
sword 10 congress, and II will probably be
come the duty of the National museum, in
which 50 many other valuable relics are de
posted, TO give it place in which il may he
seen in company with sketch IF the hero
and the heroic contest that make it sacred
The presentation 10 congress, through the
president, by Col. Samuel &. lieid of this bat
tie saber of his father. the late Capt Samuel
Chester Reid, who commanded the United
States private armed brig of war Gen. Arm
strong at the battle of Fayal in September,
1914, is excuse enough for reviving some in
cidents which have passed out Of mind.
UNEQUAL FORCES ENGAGED
The Armstrong was little brig Of but 2i0
tons, carrying but seven guns and ninety
men. She was attacked in the neutral waters
of the Azore islands by a British squadron.
consisting Of the ship of the line Plantagenet
the frigute Rora and the sloop Of war Carna
ton. with total amount of l3t guns and
l-..a II sN4aa Al.
picked men and Officers in killed and wounded,
while the Armstrong lost but two killed and
seven wounded The action has well been
called the "ThermopylT Of the Ocean, for no
naval battle in ancient or modern history i
comparable with that of the Armstror = at
Fayal. either as 10 the unequal forces engaged,
the uny yielding and inieNihle bravery Of her
officers and crew, nor to the grand results
which followed in the defeat of the British
expedition against Louisiana.
The height of heroism and romantic chiv-
airy were displayed by Capt Reid and his
crew in the last act of this extraordinary
naval drama. After scuttling his vessel to
save her from capture he went ashore with
his men and arms. when tie commander of
the squadron, Admiral Lloyd, demanded their
surrender and threatened TO send 500 men to
take them Reid retired with his men to an
old gothic convent, which he fortified. knocked
away the drawhridge, ran Up the American
flag and hade the enemy defiance. Lloyd
quailed under this last exhibition of heroic
courage, saying they were demons and not
men.
The squadron under Lloyd was on its way
to the island Of Jamaica to join the great
fleet assembled there under Admiral Lord
Cochrane, aftsrward Earl of Dundonald, who
was confidentially intrusted with the secret
expedition for the conquest Of Louisiana
The last hope of England to wrest the control
of the Mississippi river and the province of |
Louisiana from France had been folied by
Napoleon, who, seeing that he had no means
Of protecting it from the conquest of Eng
land, cede,i it to the United States IN 1903.
The FORTUNATE RESULTS
On the declaration of war by the United
States, in lSl2, England's eyes We're once |
more turned to the coveted possession, and,
after making demonstration against
and Baltimore, she assembled |
her combined fleets, no longer needed for the !
blockades of the French coasts, at Negril bay, !
Jamaica. to carry out this great design. The /
crippled condition OF Lloyds squadron had
created delay of over ten days in repairing
as they were occupied three days
alone in burying their dead. On the arrival
Of Lloyd at Jamaica further delay of a week 1
took place, Admiral Lord Cochrane being
furious at Lloyd's disaster, which finally 4
proved fatal to the expedition. The fleet dli 4
not arrive OF Lake Bosque until four days F.
after the arrival of Gen. jackson with his /
forces, which barely gave him time to make 1
4 defense, so that, had the fleet arrived ten .
laws sooner. when New Orleans and the .
roast was utterly deienseless an easy con- l
quest would have been made, and once in .
il is doubtful if the treaty of peace .
would have been. ratified by England. Thus ,
il is clearly demonstrated that if Capt Reid /
had surrendered his vessel against such al
force, which he might have .
done without the imputation of cowardice,
Louisiana might to-day be under the flag Of .
St George.
To Capt. Reid il not only due the credit of .
this victory, but its general results in saving /
a domain now more than three times larger /
than the territory of France, and it is worthy
TO be remembered that this gallant sailor be
came afterwari the designer of the present
form of the United States flag, as adopted ny .
congress in ISIS. His name and fame deserve
to be commemorated, and congress should
show the gratitude of the people by making
an appropriation for a substantial and en-
Turing testimonial TO his bravery and useful
ness.-Cor. New York Times.